Content
Lesson 1: Holidays ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Lesson 2: Relationships ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Lesson 3: Technology .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Lesson 4: Sport .................................................................................................................................................... 10
Lesson 5: Food .................................................................................................................................................... 12
Lesson 6: Education ........................................................................................................................................... 14
Lesson 7: Work .................................................................................................................................................... 17
Lesson 8: Health .................................................................................................................................................. 19
Lesson 9: Books and Films ................................................................................................................................. 21
Lesson 10: Accommodation ............................................................................................................................. 24
Lesson 11: Clothes and Fashion ....................................................................................................................... 26
Lesson 12: Personality ........................................................................................................................................ 29
Lesson 13: Business............................................................................................................................................. 31
Lesson 14: Physical Appearance ..................................................................................................................... 33
Lesson 15: Town and City .................................................................................................................................. 35
Lesson 16: Music ................................................................................................................................................. 38
Lesson 17: Weather ............................................................................................................................................ 40
Lesson 18: Shopping .......................................................................................................................................... 42
Lesson 19: Environment ..................................................................................................................................... 44
Lesson 20: Advertising ....................................................................................................................................... 47
Also available at
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IELTS Topic Vocabulary
Lesson 1: Holidays
IELTS Holiday vocabulary
You probably know the meaning of individual words like ‘flight’, ‘tour’ and ‘view’.
However, the key to showcasing your advanced English is to show you are able to
use these individual words in combination with other words to form set phrases and
expressions.
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to
the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check
the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: What kind of holiday do you like?
Miguel: I try to avoid tourist traps … I like to get away from it all and prefer
going somewhere off the beaten track … last year I had the holiday of a
lifetime … a two week wildlife safari in Kenya.
Examiner: What do you like to do when you’re on holiday?
Anna: I enjoy visiting the local places of interest … I like to go sightseeing and
always sign up for guided tours as it’s a chance to be shown around and take
photographs … one of my hobbies.
Examiner: Do you have many tourists in your country?
Amy: Yes … we have a lot of holiday resorts along the coast that are popular with
tourists … most people come on package holidays and stay in one of the many
hotels and self-cateringapartments.
Part 2-style task
Describe a beautiful place you once visited. You should say:
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when you went to this place
where it was
who you went with
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and say why you liked it so much.
Sally: A few years ago I went on a long weekend to the Lake District in the UK …
it’s a very popular holiday destination in the north of England … I went on my
own and had a wonderful time … I stayed in a youth hostel and met some really
nice people … but the most memorable thing about the holiday were
the breathtaking views … and lovely picturesque villages … it can get very busy
with hordes of tourists so I decided to go out of season in the autumn … the
weather was fantastic and the shops were full of local crafts … a really great
holiday … it’s certainly not the kind of short break for someone looking for a busy
nightlife but if you want to relax in the middle of stunning landscape I would
certainly recommend a holiday to the Lake District.
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What do you think has led to the growth in the tourism industry?
Miguel: It’s much easier and affordable to travel now … nowadays you can get
cheap charter-flights or all-in packages … to somewhere near or to a far-off
destination.
Examiner: How do people tend to choose a destination?
Anna: The Internet is a great source of information and high street travel
agents are still very popular … that’s where I like to go to get holiday
brochures for the place I’m interested in.
Examiner: People sometimes say flying is the most glamorous form of travel. Do
you agree?
Amy: I’m not so sure really … flying can be quite boring … queuing up at
the check-in desk … going through passport control … sitting for ages in
the departure lounge … then the flight itself can be quite uncomfortable … no …
I’m not sure I agree.
Definitions
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all-in package/package holiday: a holiday where you purchase the travel and
accommodation together
breathtaking view: an extremely beautiful view
charter-flight: a cheaper form of flying than a scheduled flight
check-in desk: the place at the airport where you register for your flight and deposit your
luggage
departure lounge: where you wait for your flight to be called
far-off destination: somewhere a long way away
to get away from it all: to take a holiday to escape a busy or stressful lifestyle
guided tour: an organised group shown around a place of interest by an expert
holiday brochure: a glossy publication with details of holiday packages
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holiday destination: where you go for a holiday
holiday of a lifetime: a special holiday that you are unlikely to repeat
holiday resort: a place where lots of people go for a holiday
hordes of tourists: crowds of tourists
local crafts: objects produced locally
long weekend: an extended weekend holiday including Friday or Monday
out of season: outside of the main holiday period
picturesque village: very pretty village
passport control: the place where your passport is checked
places of interest: sites of interest to tourists
wildlife safari: a holiday, often in Africa, to observe wild animals
self-catering: a holiday where you supply your own food
short break: a short holiday
to go sightseeing: to look around the tourist sites
stunning landscape: extremely beautiful countryside
travel agent: a shop that specialises in booking holidays
tourist trap: somewhere where too many tourists go
youth hostel: a cheap form of accommodation
Lesson 2: Relationships
IELTS Relationships vocabulary
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to
the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check
the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you see your friends very often?
Louisa: Yes … we meet up most weekends … we all get on really well and have a
lot in common so we’re always happy doing the same things and going to the same
places.
Examiner: What do you like about your close friends?
Anna: I think we enjoy each other’s company … we see eye-to-eye on most
things so we rarely fall out with each other.
Examiner: Have you known each other long?
Amy: Most of them yes … although my closest friend Carrie … we struck up a
relationship at college and got on like a house on fire … but yes … my other
friendships go back years to when we were at school.
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Part 2-style task
Describe a person you are very close to. You should say:
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who this person is
when you met them
where you met them
and say what it is about them you like so much.
Reiko: I’d like to talk about my boyfriend … Jose … we got to know each other at
University almost 4 years ago … we were in the same department … initially we
were just good friends and used to go out in a group with our other friends …
when Jose went back to Spain for the holidays we would keep in touch with each
other … then one year he invited me to come to Spain with him … and that’s when
we fell for each other I think … so you couldn’t really say it was love at first
sight as it had been over a year since we’d met … but we really hit it off and by the
time we got back to university in September we were able to tell all our friends that
we were in a relationship… what do I like about Jose … well he’s very kind …
very funny … and very supportive … and we’re really well matched in our
interests … he hasn’t popped the question yet though … we’ve talked about
getting married and I think we’re both ready to settle down and have children …
we’ll just have to wait and see …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Do you think marriage is still as important as ever?
Cristine: Yes … it certainly is in my country … I think the problem for some
people is a lack of commitment … all relationships have their ups and downs ….
but some people prefer to break uprather than working at the relationship.
Examiner: What do you think is the ideal time to get married?
Terry: Personally … I think you should wait until you’ve found yourself first …
decided if you want a career … perhaps do some travelling … you should do this
before tying the knot … although if you fall head over heels in love plans like
these can easily be forgotten.
Examiner: Is it important to keep in contact with our friends when we’re in a
relationship?
Maria: Absolutely … it’s so easy to drift apart from your friends when you fall in
love … but I think both partners should try not to lose touch with their friends …
that’s the best way to have a healthy relationship with your partner.
Definitions
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to break up: to end a romantic relationship
to drift apart: to become less close to someone
to enjoy someone’s company: to like spending time with someone
to fall for: to fall in love
to fall head over heels in love: to start to love someone a lot
to fall out with: to have a disagreement and stop being friends
to get on like a house on fire: to like someone’s company very much indeed
to get on well with: to understand someone and enjoy similar interests
to get to know: to begin to know someone
to go back years: to have known someone for a long time
to have a lot in common: to share similar interests
to have ups and downs: to have good and bad times
a healthy relationship: a good, positive relationship
to hit it off: to quickly become good friends with
to be in a relationship: to be romantically involved with someone
to be just good friends: to not be romantically involved
to keep in touch with: to keep in contact with
to lose touch with: to not see or hear from someone any longer
love at first sight: to fall in love immediately you meet someone
to pop the question: to ask someone to marry you
to see eye to eye: to agree on a subject
to settle down: to give up the single life and start a family
to strike up a relationship: to begin a friendship
to tie the knot: to get married
to be well matched: to be similar to
to work at a relationship: to try to maintain a positive relationship with someone
Lesson 3: Technology
IELTS Technology vocabulary
The subject of ‘Technology’ frequently comes up in the IELTS Speaking exam.
You may be asked to talk about something you own, your favourite websites, how
technology has impacted on education etc. You’ll need to show the examiner your
ability to express yourself using as wide a range of vocabulary as possible.
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to
the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check
the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you enjoy using technology?
Stephan: Well … I wouldn’t call myself a techie or a computer buff but I enjoy
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using computers … I’d like to find out more about how they work … when
my computer crashes I never know what to do.
Examiner: Do you use the Internet for your studies?
Sophie: Yes … I’d be lost without it … I do lots of video conferencing to practise
speaking and social media like Facebook is a good way to meet up with other
students … and I download podcasts that teach English vocabulary and grammar.
Examiner: Do you have your own computer?
Tania: Yes … I have a Macbook Pro … I use it all the time … for word
processing … browsing websites and catching up with TV programmes I’ve
missed.
Part 2-style task
Describe an item of technology you have that is very important. You should say:
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what the technology is
when you got it
how often you use it
and say how different your daily life would be without it.
Mattie: I don’t have many gadgets … just a computer … a laptop and my mobile
phone … but I’ll talk about my computer as it’s so useful … it’s funny really … 2
years ago I was still learning to use computers … how to use email … send
attachments how to access websites … then I decided to do a digital
editing course for video and photography … and so I bought the laptop when I
started the course … my husband had a desktop PC but it was very slow so I
decided to upgrade to a powerful one because we do a lot of video editing on the
course … it’s a high-spec laptop … very fast … the latest operating system …
it boots up really quickly and it’s fun to use so it makes working a pleasure … I’ve
become a competent computer user now … if I didn’t have it I daresay I’d have to
spend more time at college using their computers … but on the positive side I
suppose I’d read a lot more if I didn’t have it … I probably waste a lot of
time surfing the web … but hopefully I won’t have to be without it …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What do you think are the important things people need to learn when
they start using computers?
Alejandro: Well … there are things like how to use the Internet … how to enter a
web address … how to navigate websites … that kind of thing but it’s also
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important to know how to back upyour files in case your computer crashes … and
all about Internet security.
Examiner: What kind of technological developments have made the biggest impact
on our lives?
Faydene: In my lifetime it has to be the Internet of course but I also think wifi has
made a huge difference to how we interact with the Internet … wireless
networks at home and public wifi hotspots mean we can go online easily
… access our mail … log into our work intranet and basically be connected
wherever we are.
Examiner: Do computers make it much easier to study?
Jane: Definitely yes … researching information is much easier with the Internet ..
you can bookmark webpages for future reference and writing essays is much
easier … being able to cut and paste sections of text means you can experiment
with organisation … so yes … compared to years ago when you had a pile of books
on your desk and a pen and paper … it’s now much easier.
Definitions
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to access websites/email: to locate
to back up files: to make a copy of files in case of a computer problem
to boot up: to start a computer
to bookmark a webpage: to mark a webpage for future reference
to browse websites: to look at websites
a computer buff: an expert computer user
to crash: to suddenly stop working
to cut and paste: to move text or images from one place in a document to another place
a desktop PC: a computer that isn’t portable and remains in situ on a desk
digital editing: to edit digital materials like audio or video files
download (podcasts): to save a copy of a file from the internet to your own device
to enter a web address: to type the address of a website into the address bar of your
browser
a gadget: a technological tool like a mobile phone or camera
to go online: to start using the Internet
high-spec (laptop): powerful computer with top quality components
Internet security: Internet safety
intranet: a network of connected computers within an organisation that is not accessible
by unauthorised visitors
to navigate a website: to find your way around a website
operating system: the software that tells the computer how to work
send an attachment: send an email with an accompanying file
social media: media used to interact with other people such as Facebook or Twitter
to surf the web: to look at a series of websites one after the other
a techie: somebody who has an interest in technology
to upgrade: to obtain a more powerful or feature-rich computer or piece of software
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video conferencing: to see and hear people from different locations using the Internet
wireless hotspot: a public place where you can access the Internet
wireless network: a network where users can access the Internet without the use of fixed
cables
word processing; producing written texts on a computer
Lesson 4: Sport
We all have a relationship with sport: we might watch it, play it or try our best to
avoid it. Because it’s such an important subject you may find yourself being asked
questions about sport in the IELTS Speaking exam.
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to
the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check
the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you do any sports?
Loiuse: Not really … no … I always say I’m going to take up exercise and try to
get into shape but I never seem to get started … I sometimes wonder whether I
should get a personal trainer … someone who will sort out a fitness
programme for me and make me train hard ….
Examiner: How do you spend a typical weekend?
Stella: I’m a big football fan and weekends always centre around a football
match … I support FC Utrecht and have a season ticket so I go to most of
the home games and quite a few of the away games too … I’m really looking
forward to the new football season starting soon …
Examiner: Have you got any hobbies or interests?
Theo: Yes … I’m really keen on sports … I do judo once a week and play
tennis in the summer … I think it’s really important to keep fit … it makes you
feel good and energised for work and your studies ….
Part 2-style task
Describe a place you like going to in your leisure time. You should say:
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what this place is
when you go there
what you do there
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and say why you enjoy it there so much.
Maurice: I’d like to talk about my local sports centre … it’s a place I spend a lot
of time in … it’s a new building with all the latest sports facilities … I probably
go there at least twice a week … sometimes more often … it’s a huge place …
there’s an outdoor athletics track and some football pitches … I play football so
I’m often out there … there are several indoor squash and tennis courts that I use
occasionally … a big swimming pool … although I don’t use that very often …
I’m not a very strong swimmer … there’s a gym … lots of things really … why do
I enjoy going there … it’s just a really fun place to be … there’s a good social side
to it all … you can enter competitions … meet up with other people who want to do
the same sports … and because there are so many activities on offer it gets you
interested in different things … for example I was listening to some people talking
about training to run the marathon and I’ve decided I might even think about that
… I go jogging a couple of times a week so it would give me something to aim for
… so yes … the sports centre … that’s the place I really like to visit …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Should people be encouraged more to take up sport?
Alejandro: I think young people should be given the chance to discover which sport
they might like … watching sport is sometimes a good way to get people started …
not on TV but actually getting out … take athletics for example … they could go
to an athletics meeting … there are so many different sports on show one might
interest them …
Examiner: Why do some people enjoy participating in sport more than others?
Florrie: That’s a good question … I suppose some people are more concerned about
their health … they can’t stand the thought of being out of condition … other
people might be driven to excel … they want to set records or get personal
bests …
Examiner: Which sports do you think are best for people who aren’t used to
physical activity?
Julie: Well … I think people like this should avoid strenuous exercise so things
like circuit training are definitely out of the question … maybe just doing a brisk
walk every day … or swimming is always a good way to get started …
Definitions
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an athletics meeting: an event where various athletics sports are held
an athletics track: a running track
an away game: a football match played in the opposing teams stadium
a brisk walk: a fast walk
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to do judo: (not go or play)
a football fan: someone who likes football
a fitness programme: a schedule of activities to keep fit
a football match: a game of football
a football pitch: the surface on which you play football (as opposed to a stadium, which
is the building)
a football season: a period in the year when football is played
to get into shape: to become fit
to go jogging: to run around the streets
a home game: a football match played in the teams own stadium
to keep fit: to stay in good physically condition
to be out of condition: to not be physically fit
a personal best: to achieve the best personal result so far in a sport
a personal trainer: a sports coach that helps you on a one-to-one basis
to play tennis/football: (not do or go)
to run the marathon: to run a distance of 42.195 Kilometres
a season ticket: a ticket that gives you entry to most of a team’s home games during the
sporting year.
to set a record: to achieve the best result in a sport
a sports centre: a public building where people can do various sports
sports facilities: the equipment and services needed to do a sport
a squash/tennis/badminton court: the surface where you play these sports
strenuous exercise: exercise that needs a lot of physical effort
a strong swimmer: a good swimmer
a swimming pool: the place where you swim
to take up exercise: to start doing exercise
to train hard: to train with a lot of effort
Lesson 5: Food
The topic of food often comes up in the IELTS Speaking exam. You might be
asked questions about what you like to eat, your favourite restaurants or about a
popular dish in your country.
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to
the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check
the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you like to cook?
Mandy: Not really no … most of the time I eat ready meals and take-aways …
that’s one of the reasons I love visiting my mum … you can always guarantee
lovely home-cooked food …
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Examiner: What time do you usually eat dinner?
Michelle: We have our main meal at around 7.00 … I’m usually starving
hungry by then … in fact I often grab a bite to eat as soon as I get home from
college … a sandwich perhaps … but not too much to spoil my appetite …
Examiner: Are there any types of food you don’t like?
Lionel: No not really … I’m not a fussy eater at all … actually I eat like a
horse … I do a lot of sport and work up quite an appetite …
Part 2-style task
Describe a restaurant that you like to use. You should say
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where this restaurant is
what kind of food it serves
how often you go there
and say why you like eating there so much.
Howard: OK … this is a nice topic to talk about … there’s a restaurant just around
the corner from where I live … it’s an Italian restaurant so as you’d expect you can
eat various pasta dishes and pizzas and I usually go there with my family for a slapup meal if we have anything to celebrate … it’s quite a posh restaurant … the kind
of place you would take someone if you wanted to wine and dine them … we
usually order a 3-course meal … a light starter then a main dish … and I have
quite a sweet tooth so I always look forward to the dessert … I usually order
Tiramisu … it makes my mouth water just to think about it … I’m always
totally full up by the end … why do I enjoy it there … well … it’s not cheap … my
parents always foot the bill and we couldn’t afford to go there regularly so it’s
always a nice treat …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: How can we encourage people to eat more healthily?
Anna: I think the best approach is to have everything in moderation … processed
food won’t kill you if you only eat it occasionally … but people should also be
encouraged to eat a balanced diet… try to cook fresh ingredients at home a few
times a week …
Examiner: Do you think people enjoy their food as much as they should?
Florrie: I don’t know really … I suppose it’s true that people will often eat a quick
snack because they’re bored not because they’re dying of hunger … and often
they just bolt it down and don’t savour it … so yes … perhaps we could take more
time over our food …
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Examiner: Do you think cooking is a pleasure or a chore for people who have busy
lives?
Julie: Well … whether you follow a recipe or make something up as you go along
… I think cooking is a very creative process … and cooking for other people is a
particular pleasure … there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing people you
love tucking into something you’ve cooked yourself …
Definitions
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to be full up: to eat to the point that you can no longer eat any more
to be starving hungry: an exaggerated way of saying you are very hungry
to bolt something down: to eat something very quickly
to be dying of hunger: an exaggerated way of saying you are hungry
to eat a balanced diet: to eat the correct types and amounts of food
to eat like a horse: to eat a lot
to follow a recipe: to cook a meal using instructions
to foot the bill: to pay the bill
a fussy eater: somebody who has their own very high standards about what to eat
to grab a bite to eat: to eat something quickly (when you’re in a rush)
to have a sweet tooth: to enjoy sugary food
home-cooked food: food cooked at home from individual ingredients
the main meal: the most important meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening
to make your mouth water: to make you feel very hungry for something
to play with your food: to push food around the plate to avoid eating it
processed food: commercially prepared food bought for convenience
a quick snack: to eat a small amount of food between meals
a ready meal: see ‘processed food’
a slap up meal: a large meal
to spoil your appetite: to eat something that will stop you feeling hungry when it’s mealtime.
a take away: a cooked meal prepared in a restaurant and eaten at home
to tuck into: to eat something with pleasure
to wine and dine: to entertain someone by treating them to food and drink
to work up an appetite: to do physical work that leads to you becoming hungry
Lesson 6: Education
You’re likely to be asked questions about your studies during Part 1, you might
have to talk about a class, a teacher or a school memory in Part 2 or give your
opinions on education in Part 3. Therefore, being able to call on a wide range of
vocabulary to talk about education is very important.
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Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to
the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check
the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Are you studying English at a school?
Michel: Yes … I’m taking an intensive course at a local private language
school … I attend classesthree times a week …
Examiner: Would you say you are a good student?
Susan: I’m OK I think … I’m pretty good at meeting deadlines and I’m keeping
up with my studies… plus I find it quite easy to learn things by heart which is
useful when learning a language …
Examiner: When you were younger did you enjoy your time at school?
Theo: Yes … I liked school … it was an ordinary state school … nothing special
… a single-sex school … which I’m not sure I liked … but the teachers were great
… I had lots of friends and I never played truant like some pupils there …
Part 2-style task
Describe a time during your education that you really enjoyed. You should say:
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when this period was
where you were
what you were studying at the time
and say why you were so happy.
Caroline: I’d like to tell you about my time at university … I was a mature
student … I didn’t go to university until I was 25 … and it was my first time away
from my parents so it was very exciting … I was doing a Bachelors Degree and it
was a bit of a challenge … some people take a year out but I’d been away from
education for 8 years … plus I had to work my way through uni so I was very
busy … and sitting exams at the end of each year was a new experience for me as
well but I really enjoyed higher education learning about a subject I loved …
history … and the social life was great as well … I don’t think I’ve ever had so
many friends … I had my graduation ceremony last year in the local cathedral and
I know my parents were really proud … so yes … that was a really happy time …
I’m thinking of doing a Masters Degree soon … though that might be
through distance learning as I have a full-time job now …
Part 3-style questions
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Examiner: What qualities do you think a good teacher has?
Anna: They should be patient … they should be subject specialists and be able to
explain the subject clearly … they should give feedback quickly … for example
not hang on to essay for ages like some of my teachers …
Examiner: What are the advantages of studying on a distance learning course?
Florrie: It’s a more flexible way of studying especially if you have a job … tuition
fees are usually cheaper … but you have to be very motivated … and I would
imagine more people fall behind with their studies compared to face-to-face
classes …
Examiner: Do all children get equal opportunities in education?
Julie: In my country I think it is quite equal but in the UK I’ve heard that most
people who go to the top universities have studied at public schools … you have to
be very rich to study in a school like that … they’re usually boarding schools as
well so the fees are enormous …
Definitions
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to attend classes: to go to classes
bachelors degree: an undergraduate course which usually lasts 3-4 years
boarding school: a school where pupils live during term time
distance learning: a way of studying where tuition is carried out over the Internet or by
post
face-to-face classes: as opposed to distance learning the traditional way of studying in a
classroom with colleagues and a teacher
to fall behind with your studies: to progress less quickly than others
to give feedback: to offer guidance on a student’s work
a graduation ceremony: an event where a successful student receives his or her
academic degree
higher education: education, usually in a college or university, that is followed after high
school or secondary school
an intensive course: a course that offers lots of training in order to reach a goal in as
short a time as possible
to keep up with your studies: to not fall behind
to learn something by heart: to memorize it
a mature student: a student who is older than average and who has usually returned to
education after a period at work
masters degree: a period of study which often follows the completion of a bachelors
degree or is undertaken by someone regarded as capable of a higher-level academic
course
to meet a deadline: to finish a job or task in the time allowed or agreed
to play truant: to stay away from classes without permission
private language school: an independent school run as a business concern
public schools: exclusive independent schools in the UK
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a single-sex school: a school where only boys or girls attend (as opposed to a mixed-sex
school)
to sit an exam: to take an exam
state school: a school paid for by public funds and available to the general public
subject specialist: a teacher who has a great deal of knowledge about the subject they
teach.
to take a year out: to spend a year working or travelling before starting university
tuition fees: the money paid for a course of study
to work your way through university: to have a paid job whilst studying to support
yourself financially
Lesson 7: Work
If you’re employed, getting the necessary qualifications for a job, or still trying to
decide what kind of career you’re interested in, you’ll need to be able to tell the
examiner about this if you’re asked questions about work.
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to
the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check
the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: What do you do?
Sasha: I do a job-share with a friend in a boutique … I enjoy it … I like working
with customers … unfortunately it’s only temporary work but one of the perks of
the job is I get a discount on the clothes …
Examiner: Do you have any career plans yet?
Carly: Yes … I’d like to be my own boss one day … I’m interested in
programming and I’d like to create apps for myself or for other companies … I
know being self employed would be a challenge but the idea of doing a nine-tofive job doesn’t appeal to me at all …
Examiner: What do you see yourself doing in 10 years time?
Marie: I’d hope to be working … not a high-powered job … but I’m quite a
creative person so something where I can work with my hands would be nice …
as long as I’m not stuck behind a desk doing something boring in a dead-end
job I’ll be happy …
Part 2-style task
Describe your ideal job. You should say:
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what this job is
whether you would need any qualifications
whether it would be easy to find work
and say why you would enjoy this job in particular.
Max: I’ve always loved watching wildlife programmes on TV and often thought
how much I’d enjoy working with animals … perhaps in a safari park … something
like that … you’d probably need a degree to have any chance of being called for an
interview and whether there are many full-time jobs I don’t know … I’m sure a lot
of parks rely on voluntary work so it might not be easy … and it probably
wouldn’t be well-paid either but money isn’t everything … I’d get so much job
satisfaction … I can’t imagine it being the kind of job where you get stuck in a
rut … and I think I’d be good at it as well … I’d love to work with animals I
enjoy manual work and I’m a good team player … so even though the working
conditions might not be the best I think that would be my ideal job …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: If there are a limited number of jobs available who should be given
priority, young people or older people with more experience?
Anna: Things are so different these days … a few years ago older employees would
often take early retirement or go onto part-time contracts and there were always
opportunities for younger people but now jobs are so scarce … I think younger
people need to be given the chance whenever possible …
Examiner: What are some of the important things a candidate should find out
before accepting a job?
Ali: Well … you’d need to know about your area of responsibility … and your
salary of course and then there are things like holiday entitlement … maternity or
paternity leave … if you’re thinking of having children … and what the situation
is regarding sick leave … that kind of thing …
Examiner: What are the advantages of having your own business rather than
working for someone else?
Julie: Well … unfortunately being an employee at the moment is very stressful …
people have very heavy workloads … they’re always under pressure to meet
deadlines … running your own business isn’t easy … but I do think it would be
far more satisfying …
Definitions
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to be called for an interview: to be invited to attend an interview
to be your own boss: to have your own business
a dead-end job: a job with no promotional opportunities
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to do a job-share: to share the weekly hours of work with another person
a good team player: somebody who can work well with other people
full-time: the number of hours that people usually work in a complete week
a heavy workload: to have a lot of work to do
a high-powered job: an important or powerful job
holiday entitlement: the number of days holiday allowed
job satisfaction: the feeling of enjoying a job
manual work: work that requires physical activity
maternity leave: time off work given to a woman about to have a baby
to meet a deadline: to finish a job by an agreed time
a nine-to-five job: a normal job that consists of an 8 hour day (approximately)
one of the perks of the job: an extra benefit you get from a job
part-time: working less than full-time
to run your own business: see ‘to be your own boss’
to be self-employed: see ‘to be your own boss’
sick leave: time allowed off work when sick
to be stuck behind a desk: to be unhappy in an office job
to be/get stuck in a rut: to be in a boring job that is hard to leave
to take early retirement: to retire early (retire: to reach an age when you are allowed to
stop working for a living)
temporary work: work done for a limited time only
voluntary work: to work without pay
to be well paid: to earn a good salary
working conditions: the hours, salary and other entitlements that comes with the job
to work with your hands: to do manual work
Lesson 8: Health
During the IELTS Speaking exam you may be asked questions to do with health
and fitness. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay
attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the
page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Have you got a relation you’re particularly fond of?
Sinita: Yes … my granddad … he’s 94 years old but generally he’s as fit as a
fiddle … we’re very close and see each other a lot … whenever he goes down with
a cold or is under the weather I make a point of visiting him …
Examiner: Do you do any sport?
Jon: Yes … I’m keen on skateboarding … but I haven’t done it for a while … I had
a bad fall recently and pulled a muscle and had a few cuts and bruises … but
I’m on the mend and hope to be doing it again soon …
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Examiner: Is there anything you’re particularly afraid of?
Davide: The dentist … I hate going to the dentist … I only ever go if I have a
toothache so it usually means I have to have a filling or even have a tooth out …
I really don’t like it …
Part 2-style task
Describe a time when you were ill. You should say:
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when this was
what your symptoms were
how long the illness lasted
and say how it affected your life at the time.
Pierre: This is a tricky one really as I’m usually quite healthy … I’ve never been
seriously ill … like everyone else I sometimes get a few aches and pains or catch
a cold … I can remember a few months ago I had to have time off work with a
heavy cold … I had the usual symptoms … a blocked nose … sore throat … it
lasted quite a while … about 2 weeks I think though I didn’t have that much time
off work … for a few days I remember feeling poorly but I was over the worst of
itafter a few days and went back to work … I always find it’s better to be active
when you feel ill as it keeps your mind off your symptoms … I think my family get
a little fed up with me when I’m ill though … I tend to feel sorry for myself and lie
on the sofa all day as if I’m at death’s door … but as I said earlier … on this
occasion it was nothing serious and didn’t really cause me any problems …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What costs are involved when you are ill in your country?
Anya: Well … people have to pay prescription charges which can be quite
expensive … but fortunately general healthcare is free … unless you want to go
private of course and then you can pay a fortune for your treatment …
Examiner: In your experience are people too quick to take time off work when
they’re ill?
Alicia: Yes .. I’ve got friends who have a day off work if they wake up with
a runny nose … and in most cases they seem to make a speedy recovery after
they’ve phoned in sick …
Examiner: Do women pay more attention to their health than men?
Julie: I think so yes … women are more likely to see their GP for a check-up if
they’re concerned about something … men tend to avoid facing up to any health
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problems they have … my dad always seems to have a very chesty cough but
refuses to go to make an appointment to see the doctor …
Definitions
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aches and pains: minor pains that continue over a period of time
to be a bit off colour: to feel a little ill
to be at death’s door: (informal) to be very ill indeed
to be on the mend: to be recovering after an illness
to be over the worst: to have got through the most serious or uncomfortable stage of an
illlness
to be under the weather: (informal) to not feel well
a blocked nose: when the nose has excess fluid due to a cold
to catch a cold: to get a cold
a check-up: a physical examination by a doctor
a chesty cough: a cough caused by congestion around the lungs
cuts and bruises: minor injuries
to feel poorly: to feel ill
as fit as a fiddle: to be very healthy
to go down with a cold: to become ill
to go private: to choose to be treated by commercial healthcare rather than by services
offered by the state
GP: General Practitioner (family doctor)
to have a filling: to have a tooth repaired
to have a tooth out: to have a tooth removed
a heavy cold: a bad cold
to make an appointment: to arrange a time to see the doctor
to make a speedy recovery: to recover quickly from an illness
to phone in sick: to call work to explain you won’t be attending work due to illness
prescription charges: money the patient pays for medicine authorised by a doctor
to pull a muscle: to strain a muscle
a runny nose: a nose that has liquid coming out of it
a sore throat: inflammation that causes pain when swallowing
Lesson 9: Books and Films
It’s quite possible that the examiner will ask you questions about your reading
habits or ask you to say something about a book you’ve read or a film you’ve seen.
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to
the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check
the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
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Examiner: Do you like to read books?
Marie: Yes … I love reading … I like nothing more than to be engrossed in a good
book … I regularly take out books from the library and usually read them from
cover to cover in no time … and I can’t go to sleep at night without some
good bedtime reading …
Examiner: How often do you go to the cinema?
Jemma: Unfortunately we don’t have a cinema near us so we have to go into the
nearest town to catch the latest movie … I usually avoid seeing popular box-office
hits which I’m not always keen on seeing … I prefer low-budget films … scifi especially … and there’s a great cinema I go to that has frequent showings of
films like these …
Examiner: Do you prefer reading books or watching films?
Louisa: I’m not really a big reader … I find books quite heavy-going … so I much
prefer to see a film … perhaps it’s the special effects or the soundtrack … I don’t
know … I just prefer a film …
Part 2-style task
Describe a book you have read or a film you have seen. You should say:
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what this book or film was
when you read or saw it
why you decided to see the film or read the book
and say if you enjoyed it and why.
Pauline I like reading … especially English novels … it’s a great way to improve
your vocabulary and there are so many fantastic authors to choose from … one
book that came highly recommended by my teacher was The Mayor of
Casterbridge … I was studying at a school in The UK at the time and she said it
would give me a picture of what life was like years ago in the area I was living …
well I have to say I absolutely loved it … it was a real page-turner … it’s
a historical novel and the setting was a fictional town called Casterbridge … but
actually it was based on a town near where I was studying called Dorchester … it
had such a great plot … to cut a long story short it tells the story of the downfall of
a man called Henchard the central character who lives during a period of great
social change around the time of the industrial revolution … the reason I enjoyed it
so much … apart from the great story … it gave me a picture of what life had been
like in the place I was studying at the time … I really couldn’t put it down … a
fantastic story …
Part 3-style questions
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Examiner: Is reading as pleasurable in digital format?
Alise: Personally I prefer reading a paperback or hardback … especially if I’m
reading a classic which I don’t think feels right as an e-book … but I can see it can
be good for others … my grandmother has an e-reader and she loves the way you
can enlarge the text …
Examiner: Do you think bookshops will survive the digital revolution?
Thomas: I think so … at least I hope so … I love flicking through books in a
bookshop … online shopping is useful … finding out on Amazon if a book you
want has got a good review … maybe getting one that is difficult to find … but I
still love the experience of being in a bookshop …
Examiner: Statistics show that visits to the cinema are up despite the availability of
DVDs and online downloads. Why do you think this might be?
Jamie: I think it’s the whole experience that the cinema offers … going out to see a
film when it goes on general release … and seeing it on the big screen is more
exciting than watching the filmat home on TV … especially if it’s an action
movie … and watching it with others makes it even more special …
Definitions
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an action movie: a film with fast moving scenes, often containing violence
to be engrossed in: to be completely focused on one thing
bedtime reading: something to read in bed before you go to sleep
to be a big reader: someone who reads a lot
to be based on: to use as a modal
a box office hit: a financially successful film
to be heavy-going: difficult to read
a blockbuster: a film that is a big commercial success
to catch the latest movie: to see a film that has just come out
the central character: the main person in a film or book
a classic: of the highest quality
to come highly recommended: to be praised by another person
couldn’t put it down: wasn’t able to stop reading a book
an e-book: a digital book
an e-reader: a device for reading e-books
to flick through: to look quickly through a book
to get a good/bad review: to receive positive or negative feedback
to go on general release: when a film can be seen by the general public
hardback: a book with a rigid cover (see ‘paperback’ below)
a historical novel: a story set in the past
a low budget film: a film made with a small amount of money
on the big screen: at the cinema
a page turner: a book that you want to keep reading
paperback: a book with a flexible cover (see ‘hardback’ above)
plot: the main events in a film or book
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to read something from cover to cover: to read a book from the first page to the last
sci-fi: science fiction
to see a film: to see a film at the cinema (see ‘watch a film’ below)
the setting: where the action takes place
showings: performances of a film
soundtrack: the music that accompanies a film
special effects: the visuals or sounds that are added to a film which are difficult to
produce naturally
to take out (a book from the library): to borrow a book from the library
to tell the story of: to outline the details of someone’s life or an event
to watch a film: to watch a film on TV (see ‘to see a film’ above)
Lesson 10: Accommodation
The examiner may ask you to talk about the place you live or would like to live in
the exam. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay
attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the
page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you live in a house or an apartment?
Callum: Actually I live on campus … in a single room in halls of residence … all
first year students are encouraged to do that as they’re close to the university …
next year I plan to move into student digs in town …
Examiner: Tell me about where you live.
Julia: I live with my parents in the suburbs of Madrid … we only moved
in recently … in fact we had a house-warming party just a few weeks ago …
Examiner: What kind of accommodation do most people live in in your city?
Maria: In the city itself the majority of people live in apartment blocks … that’s
what surprised me about England … most people seem to live in terraced
houses with lovely back gardens …
Part 2-style task
Describe a house or an apartment you would like to live in. You should say
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what kind of accommodation it would be
where it would be
who would live there with you
and say why you would enjoy living in this place.
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Paolo: I think most people when answering this question would say they’d like to
live in a big detached house with spacious rooms … views of the countryside and
so on … but actually my ideal home would be a lot different … I’ve always loved
the idea of having a mobile home … a really expensive one with all the mod
cons … so I could live wherever I wanted or at least have lots of holidays and be
able to take all my home comforts with me whenever I travelled … I realise this
would have to be a second home as I’d need a base … a permanent address … but
the mobile home would be the accommodation I’d find it exciting to live in … I
suppose once I settle down and have children I’ll want to get on the property
ladder … I’ll be like everyone else … saving up to put down a deposit on a house
or an apartment … I don’t think my family would want to live in a mobile home …
but I like to think I’ll still keep that dream home in mind …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Is it better to own your own home or to rent?
Ana: I think both have their advantages … living in rented accommodation isn’t
necessarily a bad thing … you don’t have a huge debt like you do when you take
out a mortgage but I suppose the property market offers you an investment for
the future … I’m sure that’s why most people prefer to own their own home …
Examiner: What options are available to young couples looking for accommodation
in your country?
Toni: If they want to buy their own home it isn’t easy for first-time buyers …
mortgages are hard to get so most people live with their parents or in rented
accommodation … but that can also be very expensive … you often have to pay
rent in advance … and if the accommodation isn’t fully furnished you have the
expense of buying furniture …
Examiner: What are some of the pleasures involved in making a home for
ourselves?
Suki: I suppose it starts with house-hunting … finding your ideal home … some
people enjoy doing up an old property … giving a property that’s old and tired a
new lease of life … others like making wherever they live feel like home with
some home comforts …
Definitions
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(all the) mod cons: technology at home that makes jobs easier such as a washing
machine, dishwasher etc.
apartment block: a large building made up of smaller units of apartments
back garden: a garden at the rear of the house
detached house: a house that is not physically connected to another property
to do up a property: to repair an old building
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dream home: a home you regard as perfect
first-time buyer: someone buying a property for the first time, especially when taking out
a loan (mortgage)
fully-furnished: a rented property with all furniture included
to get on the property ladder: to buy a property with the aim of buying another bigger or
more expensive one later in life
hall of residence: a college or university building where students live
home comforts: things that make a home feel comfortable to live in
house-hunting: looking for a property to live in
house-warming party: a party to celebrate moving into a new home
ideal home: a perfect home
to live on campus: to live on the university or college grounds
mobile home: a home that can be moved by a vehicle or one that has its own engine
to move into: to begin to live in a property
to own your own home: to have bought the property you live in
to pay rent in advance: weekly or monthly rent paid at the beginning of the week or
month
permanent address: a fixed address
property market: the buying and selling of land or buildings
to put down a deposit: to pay an amount of money as the first in a series of future
payments
rented accommodation: property owned by someone else and for which a person pays a
fixed amount to live in
single room: a room for one person
spacious room: a large room
student digs: student accommodation
the suburbs: a residential area on the edge of towns or cities
to take out a mortgage: to borrow a large amount of money, paid back over several
years, in order to buy a house
terraced house: a house connected on both sides by other properties
Lesson 11: Clothes and Fashion
The examiner may ask you to talk about the clothes you like to wear or your
attitude towards fashion. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers
below and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the
bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you enjoy buying clothes?
Pedro: I used to … yes … like most young people I was a bit of a slave to
fashion and I’d always have to buy that must-have shirt or pair of shoes … I’m not
so bothered now though … I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing something old
fashioned but I’m not as bothered as I used to be about what I wear …
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Examiner: What kind of clothes do you like to wear?
Marco: I prefer casual clothes actually … I hate getting dressed up for special
occasions … personally I think it’s possible to look good in a pair of jeans … but
that’s my opinion … I don’t think my wife would call me a fashion icon that’s for
sure …
Examiner: Are there many clothes shops where you live?
Sylvia: Yes … there are lots in my town … apart from the big chain stores we’ve
got a couple of really nice shops that sell vintage clothes … old clothes but in
a classic style that never really go out of fashion … I love going there …
Part 2-style task
Describe someone you know who dresses well. You should say
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who they are
how you know them
what kind of clothes they wear
and say why you like the way they dress.
Tomoko: I’d like to talk about one of my teachers … Miss Evans … she teaches us
English in the school I go to … we always look forward to seeing what she’s going
to wear when our lessons start … she’s always very well dressed and takes a lot of
pride in her appearance … it’s not that she dresses in very smart clothes … she
doesn’t come to school dressed to kill or anything like that … but what she wears
really suits her … and she has a great sense of style as well … we often ask her
where she gets some of her clothes and most of the time they’re just off the peg …
and she says she’s not interested in designer labels or anything like that … she
doesn’t seem too concerned about keeping up with the latest fashion … she just
wears clothes that are timeless … yes … Miss Evans is the person I think looks
great in the clothes she wears …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What factors do you think affect the clothes we choose to wear?
Maki: It depends … where we are or where we’re going is a big factor … if you are
going out to a club or party you’re going to dress for the occasion … and then
there are those who think it’s important to look like they’re on trend … they’ll
want to wear the latest fashions … there are lots of factors really …
Examiner: What kind of things determine what is in fashion and what we should be
wearing?
Martin: I suppose the big fashion houses and fashion shows must have an effect
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but the clothes you see on the catwalk don’t always reflect what normal people
wear … so I suppose it will be things like what singers are wearing in videos or
models are wearing in magazines … that kind of thing …
Examiner: Is it possible to look good without spending lots of money on clothes?
Corinna: I’m sure it is … yes … I suppose it’s about having an eye for what looks
good … knowing how to mix and match different items of clothing that go well
together … I think you can pick up great bargains in charity shops … sometimes
for youngsters even hand-me-downs can look good …
Definitions
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to be on trend: to be very fashionable
casual clothes: not formal
classic style: a simple, traditional style that is always fashionable
designer label: a well-known company that makes (often expensive) clothing
dressed to kill: wearing clothes that attract admirers
to dress for the occasion: to wear clothes suitable for a particular event
fashionable: in fashion
fashion house: a company that sells (usually expensive) new styles in clothes
fashion icon: a person who is famous for their sense of fashion
fashion show: an event where modals show off the latest in fashion designs
to get dressed up: to put on nice clothes, often to go out somewhere special
to go out of fashion: to not be in fashion any more
hand-me-downs: clothes that are passed down from older brothers or sisters to their
younger siblings
to have an eye for (fashion): to be a good judge of
to have a sense of style: the ability to wear clothes that look stylish
the height of fashion: very fashionable
to keep up with the latest fashion: to wear the latest fashions
to look good in: to wear something that suits you
to mix and match: to wear different styles or items of clothing that aren’t part of a set
outfit
must-have: something that is highly fashionable and therefore in demand
off the peg: clothing that is ready made
old fashioned: not in fashion any more
on the catwalk: the stage that modals walk along to show off the latest fashions
a slave to fashion: someone who always feel the need to wear the latest fashions
smart clothes: the kind of clothes worn for a formal event
to suit someone: to look good on someone
to take pride in one’s appearance: to pay attention to how one looks
timeless: something that doesn’t go out of fashion
vintage clothes: clothes from an earlier period
well-dressed: to be dressed attractively
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Lesson 12: Personality
During the IELTS Speaking exam you may be asked to talk about someone’s
personality or character. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers
below and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the
bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: How would you describe yourself?
Paula: Everyone tells me I take after my mum as I’m quite laid-back … I think
I’m good companybut you should ask my friends if they agree …
Examiner: In which ways are you similar to your friends?
Manuel: I seem to be attracted to introverts … not people who are painfully
shy but most of my friends are a little reserved … and I think that’s what I’m like
…
Examiner: Are you similar or different to your brother(s)/sister(s)?
Mira: I think my brother and I are very similar … I’d say we’re fun-loving and tend
to be a bit extroverted … my brother is certainly the life and soul of the party …
I’m not sure that applies to me …
Part 2-style task
Describe a teacher you once had who you enjoyed being taught by. You should say
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who this person was
when they were your teacher
which subject they taught you
and describe what it was about their character that you liked.
Carolina: I’d like to describe my English teacher from school … Miss Thomas …
this was a few years ago now and she was my teacher at a time when I was getting
a little bored with being at school … unlike some of the other teachers Miss
Thomas never lost her temper … she was very calm and easy-going … she was
also very broad-minded … we were able to ask her questions about lots of subjects
that some other teachers would refuse to discuss which made us respect her even
more … she had a great sense of humour too … she’d laugh at our jokes as well as
making us laugh … and she would also bend over backwards to help us with our
work … she always put us first and often stayed around at the end of class to talk
with anyone who needed help … apparently she was highly respected within her
field but you would never know as she was the type that hid her light under a
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bushel … she was very modest and self-effacing … so yes … Miss Thomas was a
teacher I have fond memories of …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Which personal qualities do you think we most want to pass on to our
children?
Martin: I certainly would want my children to be self-confident and selfassured … I really believe that people who feel good about themselves are in a
good position to face what life has to offer them … and I’d hope they wouldn’t
be self-centred … but remembered to think about others …
Examiner: Which characteristics do you think are the least appealing in a person?
Marianne: Well … people who are very narrow-minded are difficult to get on with
… it’s nice when someone is open to other people’s opinion and willing to think
about their own views … and people who are two-faced can be a little irritating …
relationships are built on trust and without honesty there’s not much left …
Examiner: Which personality types do you think are less likely to suffer from stress
or anxiety?
Sol: Probably people who are thick-skinned … who don’t let people or problems
affect them too much … and if you are fair-minded you’ ll be less likely to
overreact to situations or be quick-tempered …
Definitions
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to be the life and soul of the party: a fun person, someone who is the centre of activity
to bend over backwards: to try very hard to help someone
broad-minded: prepared to accept other views or behaviours
easy-going: relaxed and not easily worried about anything
extrovert: an energetic person who likes the company of others
fair-minded: to treat people equally
fun-loving: to enjoy having fun
to hide one’s light under a bushel: to hide one’s talents and skills
good company: enjoyable to socialise with
good sense of humour: the ability to understand what is funny
introvert: someone who is shy
laid-back: see ‘easy-going’
to lose one’s temper: to suddenly become angry
narrow minded: opposite of ‘broad-minded’ (see above)
painfully shy: very shy
to put others first: to think of others before yourself
quick-tempered: to become angry quickly
reserved: shy
self-assured: confident
self-centred: thinks only of oneself
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self-confident: believes in one’s own ability or knowledge
self-effacing: to not try to get the attention of others (especially in terms of hiding one’s
skills or abilities)
to take after: to be like (often another member of the family)
thick-skinned: not easily affected by criticism
trustworthy: can be trusted
two-faced: not honest or sincere. Will say one thing to someone to their face and another
when they are not present.
Lesson 13: Business
During the IELTS Speaking exam you may be asked to talk about the subject of
business. This might involve describing a business you know well or talking about
your own ambitions. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below
and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom
of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you work or are you a student?
Hati: I run my own business actually … I have an online business selling
cosmetics … I set up the business 5 years ago and I’m really enjoying working
for myself …
Examiner: What is your ideal job?
Kaori: I don’t think I’d enjoy working for a big company … I think I’d like to go it
alone and be self-employed … I’m not sure what area of business it would be but I
think I’d enjoy the process of drawing up a business plan and seeing if I could be
successful …
Examiner: Is your town a nice place to live?
Monique: It’s OK … the main problem we have is our local high street … it used to
be a busy centre but lots of shops have gone bust … it must be very difficult to
make a profit when you have huge supermarkets in the area and a lot haven’t been
able to survive with such cut-throat competition…
Part 2-style task
Describe a business you know that you admire. You should say
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what this business is
what the business sells
how long you have known about the business
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and say why you like it so much.
Magda: Actually I discovered a business very recently that I like so much I’d like
to do something similar in the future … it’s a small niche business that runs
courses in how to cook … especially bread … the owner uses his kitchen for the
courses and went into business with a local community shop and sells a lot of the
bread and cakes they make in the shop … I first got to hear about the business last
year … my wife paid for me to do one of the baking courses and I got to know the
owner during the training … it’s a lifestyle business really … he doesn’t have
plans to take on employees or expand into new areas … he’s happy earning a
living doing the thing he loves … I really admire what he does and I’m sure a lot of
people would love to do something similar … he has a web presence … in fact
that’s how we got to find out about his company … and he uses social media to
raise the company profile … but he’s the only person involved in running the
business so he’s in complete control of where the business goes … that’s
something that must make it really satisfying … as long as he’s managing to
balance the books and the cash flow is healthy I’m sure he must be very pleased
with what he has achieved …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Why do some people decide to set up their own business?
Marion: I suppose it’s the idea of being in control of your own destiny … or of
believing in a product or service idea you may have … plus it must be very exciting
… launching products … winning contracts … and seeing your sales
figures improving must be wonderful …
Examiner: What are some of the dangers involved in starting a business?
Hiro: Well … obviously you need to have a good idea … some people say you need
to do market research beforehand so you know what the market wants … if you
don’t do this you could go under … and if it is a good idea the chances are
someone else is doing the same thing so you could end up facing stiff
competition …
Examiner: What are some of things you have to do when running your own
business that might not appeal to everyone?
Katy: Personally i don’t like being in debt so taking out a business
loan wouldn’t suit me at all … and I know a lot of companies do cold calling to
try and drum up business … that’s something I’d hate to do … and laying people
off if the business gets into trouble … that would be horrible …
Definitions
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to balance the books: to not spend more money than you are earning
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to be self-employed: to work for yourself/to not work for an employer
to cold call: to make a sales call to someone without asking them for permission first
cut throat competition: when one company lowers its prices, forcing other companies to
do the same, sometimes to a point where business becomes unprofitable
to do market research: to do research into what potential customers would or wouldn’t
buy
to draw up a business plan: to write a plan for a new business
to drum up business: to try to get customers
to earn a living: to earn money
to go bust: when a business is forced to close because it is unsuccessful
cash flow: the money coming in and going out of a business
to go into business with: to join another person to start or expand a business
to go it alone: to start your own business
to go under: (see ‘to go bust’)
to have a web presence: to have a website or social media profile that showcases your
business
to launch a product: to start selling and promoting a new product
to lay someone off: when a company ends an employee’s contract of employment
lifestyle business: a business that is set up to bring in a sufficient income and no more
to make a profit: to earn more money than it costs to run the business
niche business: a business that serves a small, particular market
to raise a company profile: to make more people aware of a business
to run your own business: to have a business of your own
sales figures: a report of the income a company generates through sales of products or
services
to set up a business: to start a business
stiff competition: strong competition from other companies in the same area of work
to take on employees: to employ people
to take out a loan: to borrow money
to win a contract: when a business gets legally-binding work with an individual or
company
to work for yourself: (see ‘to be self-employed’)
Lesson 14: Physical Appearance
During the IELTS Speaking exam you may want to talk about what people look
like. This might involve describing their physical appearance or the type of clothes
they like to wear. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and
pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of
the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you look like any other people in your family?
Carlo: No … not at all … take my brother for example … he has short cropped
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hair and has quite a pointed face … he’s also quite fair-skinned compared to me
…
Examiner: Tell me about your family.
Andrea: My father’s getting on a bit … he’s in his 60s … but he looks very young
for his age … he still does lots of exercise and is quite well-built …
Examiner: What does your best friend look like?
Mandy: She’s the same age as me … she has shoulder-length hair … fair hair …
she has a slim figure and is medium height …
Part 2-style task
Describe a person whose appearance you like. You should say
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who this person is
what their relationship is to you
what they look like
and say what it is about their appearance you like.
Monique: OK … I’d like to talk about my aunt … her name’s Marta and she’s
quite a character … she’s middle-aged but has a very youthful appearance …
she’s a little overweight I suppose but not too much … she has a friendly round
face framed by thick blonde hair … she has a lovely complexion and she’s
always well-turned out … she actually always looks like she’s going out for the
evening to somewhere special … there’s never a hair out of place … I’ve always
thought she bears a striking resemblance to someone on TV … I can’t remember
the name now … she wears glasses and always seems to have a different pair on
every time I see her … I like the way she looks because she wears clothes that are
right for her age and manages to look glamorous without it looking like she’s too
done up … yes … I’ll be happy if I look like her when I’m her age …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Is it important to dress well whenever we go out?
Mark: It depends where you’re going … I know some people get done up just to go
to the shops … but I don’t see the point … you shouldn’t go out
looking scruffy with disheveled hair but I really don’t see the point in getting
dressed up to the nines unless you’re going somewhere special …
Examiner: Do people worry too much about their appearance as they get older?
Mira: I’m sure they do … yes … but it happens to all of us doesn’t it … we all go
grey eventually and get hard of hearing … we start to lose our figure … that’s
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why plastic surgery is so popular … personally I think we just need to grow old
gracefully and not worry too much about how we look …
Examiner: Is attractiveness a quality worthwhile aiming for?
Phoebe: I’d like to say no … it shouldn’t matter what we look like in terms of our
physical appearance … but unfortunately it seems women especially are taken more
seriously if they are good looking with a slender figure with perfect make up and
so on …
Definitions
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to bear a striking resemblance: to look very similar to
cropped hair: very short hair
disheveled hair: untidy hair
to dress up to the nines: to dress very smartly or glamorously
fair hair: light-coloured hair
to be fair-skinned: light skinned
to get done up: to dress smartly
to be getting on a bit: to be getting old
to go grey: to have hair that is turning grey
to be good looking: to be attractive
to grow old gracefully: to act in a way that embraces the fact you are getting older
to be hard of hearing: to find it difficult to hear
in his/her 30s/40s: to be 20/30 something
scruffy: dressed untidily
to look young for your age: to look younger than you are
to lose one’s figure: to have a figure that has lost its toned shape
complexion: natural skin colour and texture
make up: cosmetics
medium height: average height
middle-aged: approximately between 45-65
to never have a hair out of place: perfectly styled hair
to be overweight: to weigh more than is regarded as healthy
pointed face: the opposite of a round face
shoulder-length hair: hair that comes down to the shoulders and no further
slender figure: a figue that is tall and slim
slim figure: attractively thin
thick hair: a lot of hair
to wear glasses: to use spectacles
to be well-built: to be muscular
to be well-turned out: to look smart
youthful appearance: to look young
Lesson 15: Town and City
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In the IELTS Speaking exam you may be called upon to showcase your vocabulary
to describe towns and cities. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers
below and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the
bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: What is it like where you live?
Christiane: I live in a residential area of a busy town in the south of Spain … we
have all the facilities you need … good public transport … a good shopping
centre … it’s nice …
Examiner: Do you like living in the city?
Andrea: Yes I do … I like going out with my friends and there are lots of lively
bars and restaurants within walking distance of my apartment … I’m a bit of a
culture vulture as well so it’s great to have access to art exhibitions and that kind of
thing …
Examiner: Do you get many tourists visiting your area?
Mandy: Not really no … I live in the inner-city and the area is a little run down …
it’s basically a lot of high-rise flats and many of the shops are boarded up … so
nothing to interest tourists really …
Part 2-style task
Describe an interesting town or city in your country that visitors might enjoy. You
should say
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what the place is called
where the place is
what the facilities are like
and say why visitors might enjoy going there.
Monique: Anyone who comes to my country really should spend some time in
Barcelona … it’s a beautiful place … it’s not what you would call a sprawling
city … it’s quite compact really and you could walk across the city in a couple of
hours … but there’s no need to do that as we have a fantastic public transport
system so it’s easy to get around … there are various districts all with their own
character … you have the upmarket shops in the centre … you’ll find lots
of chain stores you’ll recognise from your own country but also local brands as
well … we have the narrow streets in the Gothic district with lots of fashionable
boutiques and tourist attractions … there’s the Olympic area and the beaches
along the coast … and dotted around the city are some lovely public spaces …
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parks and squares in the city centre and on the outskirts of Barcelona where
people relax with their friends and family … and of course pavement
cafes everywhere … all that and some great historical places of interest … so a
great destination for tourists …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What are the advantages of living in a city or big town?
Carrie: I think it’s having access to local facilities really … local shops as well as
access to larger shopping malls in the city centre … and if you’re well-off you can
afford to live in the suburbsaway from the busy traffic …
Examiner: In your experience are city centres usually attractive places?
Mary: Some can be yes … especially those with a historical interest … but
sometimes they’re full of ugly office blocks … multi-story car parks … and
residents living in poor housing … it depends on the city doesn’t it?
Examiner: What are some of the challenges facing towns and cities?
Penny: I suppose traffic congestion is a major problem … and the growth in outof-town supermarkets and retail parks mean lots of town centre shops
are closing down … plus a shortage of good quality housing … I think these are the
major challenges …
Definitions
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boarded up shops: shops that are no longer doing business
chain stores: well-known brands with shops in multiple cities
to close down: to stop doing business
fashionable boutiques: fashionable clothes shops
to get around: to travel around
high-rise flats: multi-story apartments
inner-city: the central part of a city where people live and where conditions are often
poor
in the suburbs: the outer area of large towns and cities where people live
lively bars/restaurants: bars or restaurants with a good atmosphere
local facilities: local buildings or services serving the public
multi-story car parks: car parks on several floors
office block: a large building that contains offices
out of town shopping centre/retail park: large shopping centres outside of the town or
city
pavement cafe: cafes with tables outside on the pavement
places of interest: buildings that have a particular interest for visitors
poor housing: housing that is not in good condition
public spaces: areas in a town or city that are open to the public
public transport system: public vehicles such as buses and trains that operate at regular
times on fixed routes
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residential area: an area where people live
run down: old and of a poor standard
shopping centre: an area consisting of multiple shops
shopping malls: large indoor shopping centres
sprawling city: a city that has grown over time and which covers a wide area
tourist attraction: a place of interest to tourists
traffic congestion: heavy traffic making it difficult to move around a town or city
upmarket shops: expensive fashionable shops
Lesson 16: Music
In the IELTS Speaking exam you may be asked questions about the music you
listen to or instruments you play. Read the following IELTS-style questions and
answers below and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’
section at the bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t
understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: What kind of music do you listen to?
Katherine: I’m a big fan of classical music … it doesn’t make me very popular
with my children … their taste in music is completely different … they always
want to listen to their favourite rock bands …
Examiner: Do you play any instruments?
Jamie: No I don’t … I’ve always wished I’d taken up a musical instrument … I’d
love to be able to play the guitar … but I think I’m a bit tone deaf so perhaps I’d
find it hard …
Examiner: Have you got any hobbies or interests?
Marco: I’m really into live music … I go to a lot of music festivals … I think a live
performancealways sounds more exciting than a recorded version … as long as the
performers can sing and play well of course …
Part 2-style task
Describe a song you like to listen to. You should say
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what the piece of music is called
how long you have liked it
when you like to listen to it
and say why you like it so much.
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Millie: Well … I’m a little older than most students and when I was young Abba
the Swedish pop group were very famous … I don’t think it was cool to like them
even though they had a huge following but I think now people have realised what
wonderful songs they wrote … one piece of music in particular is called ‘Slipping
through my fingers’ … it wasn’t a massive hit but I love it … it’s a song for
parents and it’s all about how quickly our children grow up … it’s a slow
number and like a lot of their songs it’s a very catchy tune … the two women in
Abba had great voices and it’s the kind of music you can also sing along to easily
… even if you don’t have a great voice … I listen to Abba when I feel like a singsong … and I especially like to listen when I’m doing the housework … it stops me
thinking about the hard work …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Is the Internet a good or bad thing for the music industry?
Thomas: On the one hand it’s good for marketing new musical talent or particular
bands but it’s so easy to share and download tracks for free I think it is costing the
industry a lot of money …
Examiner: Should music be treated as seriously as subjects like maths or sciences at
school?
Carla: I think it should … I don’t think it should be taught in a boring way … I
mean making children read music … but I do think they should be encouraged to
play instruments and to play things by ear perhaps … to keep the lessons fun …
Examiner: Where do people usually enjoy listening to music?
Sally: In lots of ways or places … as background music when they are doing
something else … at concerts when a band goes on tour … or in clubs or discos …
Definitions
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adoring fans: people who love a particular band or singer
background music: music that is played while something else is happening
a catchy tune: a song that is easy to remember and makes you want to sing it
classical music: music that is regarded as part of a long, formal tradition
to download tracks: to obtain music from the Internet
to have a great voice: to sing well
to go on tour: to go on a planned series of performances around a region or country
a huge following: a large number of fans
live music: music that is listened to while it is performed (not recorded)
live performance: (see live music)
a massive hit: a record that sells lots of copies
a music festival: music performances at a venue often over several days
musical talent: skilled at music
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to be/sing out of tune: to not be in harmony/to sing the wrong notes
a piece of music: an item of music
to play by ear: to play without reading the musical notes
a pop group: a small group of people who play or sing pop music together
to read music: to understand and follow written musical notes
a rock band: a group of musicians that play rock music
to sing along to: to join in singing
a sing-song: to sing informally, often with other people
a slow number: a song with a slow tempo
to take up a musical instrument: to begin learning a musical instrument
taste in music: the music someone likes
to be tone deaf: to be unable to distinguish the different notes in music
Lesson 17: Weather
In the IELTS Speaking exam you may be asked questions about the topic of ‘the
weather’, perhaps the weather in your country or when you’ve travelled to other
countries. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay
attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the
page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: What’s the weather like in your country?
Katie: It’s quite changeable really … we have periods of time with clear blue
skies then all of a sudden we’ll have torrential rain.
Examiner: Which months have the best weather in your country?
Ernst: Well … I suppose it’s a matter of personal taste really … I like it around the
end of October and November … I’m not fond of the heatwaves we often get
during the summer … it’s not freezing cold during these months and we still get
lots of sunny spells.
Examiner: Does it bother you much when it rains?
Junko: It depends … if I get caught in the rain and I get drenched I don’t like it
… but I’m a gardener so a drop of rain is good for my plants.
Part 2-style task
Describe a time when you experienced extreme weather conditions. You should say
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when this was
where you were
what the weather was like
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and say how you felt about the experience.
I was studying English in a language school a few years ago … we were in
Cornwall in the UK … we’d been enjoying lovely sunny days … not a cloud in
the sky … when all of a sudden there was a change in the weather … we were in
town walking around the shops when it started to pour down … I’d never seen
such heavy rain before … within about 10 minutes the roads were full of water …
I think they call it a flash flood … it was like being in the middle of a tropical
storm … the water was almost up to my knees … the weather forecast hadn’t
predicted it so everyone was taken by surprise … I’m not sure you could call it
‘extreme’ weather as a few hours later it started to clear up … the sun came
out and slowly the water level went down … but a lot of people’s houses were
flooded so it would have been extreme for them … I found it all quite exciting … in
my country we generally have a very mild climate and don’t often get floods like
this so it was quite an experience for me.
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Do you think the weather affects how people feel?
Tierre: Absolutely … yes … I don’t mind the occasional cold spell but I think the
winter months can make you feel down. I hate having to leave the house in the
winter … there’s often a thick fogevery morning and we sometimes get bitterly
cold winds … the winter certainly makes me feel a little depressed … though
having said that … it’s always nice to see the town covered in a blanket of snow.
Examiner: Do you think the weather is changing due to global warming?
Ceri: I don’t know if it’s due to global warming or not but the weather in my
country is certainly changing … we’ve been getting quite mild winters lately …
the temperatures are sometimes below freezing but only occasionally … and then
during the summer it can get boiling hot with a lot of older people even suffering
from heatstroke.
Examiner: In which ways are weather forecasts useful?
Sinita: Well … if you’re planning a trip or going on holiday it’s important to know
whether you’ll need to dress up warm or take an umbrella … farmers need to
know what the long-range forecast is so they can plan their work … I suppose
people who organise outside events need to know as well in case things get rained
off.
Definitions
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to be below freezing: below zero degrees Celsius
bitterly cold: very cold and unpleasant
a blanket of snow: a complete covering of snow
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boiling hot: very hot (informal)
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changeable: weather that often changes
a change in the weather: when weather conditions change
clear blue skies: a sky without clouds
to clear up: when clouds or rain disappear
to come out (the sun): when the sun appears out of a cloudy sky
a cold spell: a short period of cold weather
to dress up warm: to wear warm clothes to protect yourself against wintry conditions
a drop of rain: a little bit of rain
a flash flood: a sudden and severe flood
freezing cold: very cold (informal)
to get caught in the rain: to be outside when it rains unexpectedly
to get drenched: to get very wet
heatstroke: a serious condition caused by being too long in hot weather
a heatwave: a period of very hot weather
heavy rain: intense rainfall
long-range forecast: the weather forecast for several days or weeks ahead
mild climate: a climate without extreme weather conditions
mild winter: a winter that isn’t particularly cold
not a cloud in the sky: see ‘clear blue skies’ above
to pour down: to rain heavily
to be rained off: to be cancelled or postponed due to poor weather
sunny spells: short periods of sunny weather
thick fog: a dense fog that makes visibility very poor
torrential rain: see ‘heavy rain’ above
tropical storm: a storm typical of ones that you find in tropical climates
weather forecast: a TV/radio programme or section in a newspaper/magazine which
predicts weather conditions
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Lesson 18: Shopping
It’s possible the examiner may ask you questions about your shopping habits in the
IELTS Speaking exam. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers
below and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the
bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you often go shopping for personal items?
Maxine: When I can afford it yes … my college is in the city centre and I do a lot
of window shopping … but being a student I’m on a tight budget so I have to
be careful with money …
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Examiner: Are there many shops where you live?
Jenny: We’ve got a few local shops nearby and a few independent stores but none
of the big high street names … I have to go into town for them …
Examiner: Do you enjoy shopping?
Marco: It depends … I hate it when the sales are on … crowds of people all trying
to snap up a bargain … I find it all a bit stressful … I also get annoyed when shop
assistants try to give me the hard sell when all I want to do is look around …
Part 2-style task
Describe a time when you bought something for someone. You should say
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when this was
what is was you bought
who you bought it for
and say how you felt about buying it for them.
Coleen: I’d like to tell you about the time … about four years ago … my husband
and I bought a computer for our daughter … she was about to go to university and
we’d promised her we would treat her to one … at the time there had been a
big advertising campaign for the latest Apple Macbook and our daughter was
very keen to have one … she kept telling us they were value for money … even
though they seemed very expensive to us … anyway we tried to shop around to
see if we could pick up a bargain … this was in the middle of the summer
sales and wherever you went prices were being slashed on big brand names …
but unfortunately not Apple products … we ended up having to pay the full
price … I remember my daughter justifying the cost by pointing out how nice the
Apple carrier bag was … but it was lovely to see her so excited and the customer
service she’s received during the four years she’s had it has been excellent … so it
was value for money after all …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Do you think we will stop using paper money in the future?
Louisa: I think it’s almost certain … at the moment it’s still possible to pay in
cash but I’m sure this will change … the problem is people are more likely to get
into debt and run up a credit card billwhen this happens.
Examiner: How do companies encourage the consumer to spend their money?
Peter: Well … a recent development in my country is something called ‘Black
Friday’ where people are encouraged to shop until they drop and buy the
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latest must-have products … then there are things like loyalty cards to get the
customer back in the store …
Examiner: What do you think shops need to do to create a positive shopping
experience?
Tania: The main thing for me is not being pressurised to buy … I appreciate that
shop assistants are probably on commission but if I’m looking for clothes for
example I like to take my time … to try something on … and to ask for help if I
need it …
Definitions
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advertising campaign: a series of advertisements to persuade people to buy something
big brand names: large well-known companies or product names
to be careful with money: to not over-spend
carrier bag: bags (usually plastic) supplied by shops
customer service: the degree to which customers are treated well
to get into debt: to owe money
to give someone the hard sell: to put pressure on someone to buy something
high street names: well-known shops
independent stores: small shops independent of large companies
local shops: community shops
loyalty card: a card issued by a shop to allow customers to save money on the basis of
what they spend
must-have product: a product that is very popular that a lot of people want to have
to be on a tight budget: to have a limited amount of money to spend
to be on commission: to pay someone in relation to the amount they sell
a pay in cash: to pay for something using coins or paper money
to pay the full price: to pay the full amount for something
to pick up a bargain: to buy something much cheaper than the normal price
to run up a credit card bill: to owe money on a credit card
to shop around: to try different shops to find the best deal
shop assistant: the person who serves customers
to shop until you drop: to do a lot of shopping
to slash prices: to reduce prices a great deal
to snap up a bargain: to buy something quickly that is being sold cheaply
summer sales: a period in the year when things are sold cheaply
to try something on: to see if an item of clothing fits or is suitable
to be value for money: to be worth the cost
window shopping: to visit a store to look at items without the intention of buying
anything
Lesson 19: Environment
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You may be asked questions about the environment or environmental problems in
your country. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and
pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of
the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Are there any environmental problems in your country?
Kelly: Yes … we have a serious issue with pollution levels in some of our big
cities … exhaust fumes from cars and lorries are definitely one reason for the
problem but we also have a lot of heavy industry in some areas and this
also results in poor air quality …
Examiner: Do you take an interest in nature?
Jenny: Well … I’m a city person through and through and don’t get back to
nature very often I’m afraid … but like everyone else I’m fascinated by the
natural world and I like watching documentaries showing wild animals in
their natural habitat …
Examiner: Do you or your family take steps to help the environment?
Mira: My parents have always tried to make us aware of our impact on the
environment… they’re really into energy conservation … and always try to
buy environmentally friendlyproducts if they have the chance …
Part 2-style task
Describe an environmental problem that has been in the news. You should say
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when this was
where the event happened
what actually took place
and say how you felt about this problem.
Martin: Well … this is an interesting question … there are so many issues I could
think of … natural disasters like earthquakes and floods seem to be in the news
almost every year … but there was one story recently about some animals that
were under threat … it wasn’t focused on one place in particular … it was
looking at various animals that could actually become extinct in different African
countries … if we don’t take steps to protect them … these were really iconic
animals like gorillas … leopards … rhinos … and apparently they’re
now listed as endangered species … what made it really depressing was they were
in danger thanks to us … in some cases it was due to a loss of habitat either
because people need more agricultural production … or even worse I think
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… because of hunting and poaching … I hate to think of future generations being
robbed of the chance to see creatures like these in their natural environment …
it’s lucky we have lots of organisations that focus on wildlife conservation …
hopefully with their help we can put pressure on those in power to do something to
stop creatures like these dying out …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What do you think is the main danger the world faces in terms of the
environment?
Spencer: Well … climate change is a real issue … in my country we have flash
floods and heatwaves on a yearly basis … so yes … I think global warming is the
biggest issue.
Examiner: What examples are there of how we damage the natural world?
Stella: There are so many examples … there are factories that empty toxic
waste into rivers and oceans … oil spills that damage the coastline … the way we
destroy vast areas of land and rain forests in search of fossil fuels or to increase
agricultural production …
Examiner: In which ways do we respond well to environmental problems?
Mathius: Well … on the one hand there are various worldwide agencies that are
always the first on the scene with humanitarian aid after natural and man-made
disasters … and on the other hand we have environmental pressure groups that
are constantly raising awareness of issues and trying to stop disasters happening …
Definitions
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air quality: the cleanliness of the air we breathe
to become extinct: to no longer exist
to be under threat: to be in danger of becoming extinct
climate change: the change in worldwide weather patterns
to die out: see ‘to become extinct’
endangered species: categories of animals or plants that are in danger of becoming
extinct
energy conservation: the careful management of energy resources to ensure they last as
long as possible
environmentally friendly: behaviour and products that do not harm the environment
exhaust fumes: the toxic gases given off by vehicles powered by petrol
flash floods: floods that happen quickly
fossil fuels: energy resources like gas and oil that are produced deep below the ground
over millions of years
future generations: the people who live after us
to get back to nature: to live a life that is closer to nature
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global warming: the increasing temperature of the world brought about by gases such as
carbon dioxide
heavy industry: the manufacture of heavy articles and materials in large numbers
humanitarian aid: the act of showing support to people struggling to survive
impact on: the effect on
loss of habitat: the decline in areas of land where animals and plants would normally
exist
man-made disaster: widespread damage or loss of life brought about by the action of
humans
natural disaster: an event such as an earthquake, flood or hurricane which causes
widespread damage or loss of life
natural environment: the place where animals and plants would normally be found in
nature
the natural world: the world of nature
oil spill: waste usually deposited in the seas and oceans after an accident at sea
poaching: to hunt and kill wild animals illegally
pollution levels: the amount of toxic waste
pressure group: a group of people who try to raise awareness of issues and try to affect
the views and actions of people and organisations
toxic waste: poisonous, unwanted rubbish often produced by industrial processes
wildlife conservation: to protect animals and plants and their habitats
Lesson 20: Advertising
You may be asked questions about advertising in your country. Read the following
IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to the phrases in bold.
Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check the meaning of any
phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Are there any TV channels in your country that don’t have adverts?
Loraine: No … they’re all commercial channels and show adverts all day long …
too many really … and there’s also a lot of product placement going on …
especially in soap operas where they place an item just behind the actors.
Examiner: Do you enjoy watching adverts on TV?
Karin: No … not really … I hate commercial breaks during a film … it really
spoils the flow … and during prime time viewing they seem to squeeze even more
ads in than usual … celebrity endorsements also get on my nerves … everyone
knows they’re only doing it because they’re getting paid.
Examiner: What are the best ways for ordinary people to advertise something they
want to sell in your country?
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Marianne: The simplest way is to place an advert in something like the classified
ads section of a local paper … or there’s the Internet of course … there are lots of
sites like eBay where you can buy and sell things online.
Part 2-style task
Describe an advert you once saw that was very effective. You should say
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where this advert appeared
when you saw it
what it was advertising
and say why you thought it was so effective.
Max: OK … well this was about 4 years ago … I was looking for some software to
create videos … one day I got an email from a mailing list I’d signed up to … there
was a link in it to a press release … a company had written something about a new
product that was similar to what I was looking for … at the end of the press release
there was a link to the sales page … I hadn’t heard of the company but I was
interested and clicked the link to the ad …. what caught my attention immediately
were the number of testimonials from people who had bought the software … I
think testimonials are like the online equivalent of word of mouth advertising and
are really persuasive … anyway … when I got to the bottom of the page there was a
great big call to action button inviting me to buy … I was totally persuaded and
ended up making a purchase … what made it so effective I think was the power of
those testimonials … they’d been written by people very much like me … they’d
had a need and the software had obviously turned out to be just what they were
looking for … when you think that this was a newish company they wouldn’t have
had any brand awareness at all … they probably wouldn’t have had much of a
budget for advertising … obviously you wouldn’t advertise a product like this
through the mass media on TV … they probably didn’t even have an advertising
agency to support them …and yet they’d managed to create a great deal of brand
loyalty from previous customers … I think that was really effective.
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What is it that makes an advert effective?
Spencer: Well … when a company launches a product they have to consider the
Internet … especially how it can be used to spread the word on social media … so
in this context a video that goes viral is probably the most effective type of advert
you could make.
Examiner: What are the advantages to companies of advertising on the Internet
rather than TV?
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Stelios: I’d imagine the main advantage is you can reach your target
audience much more effectively … if you bring out a niche product for example
… or you have a tight advertising budget … you can advertise on particular sites
that the people you want to reach visit … that’s not something you can do on TV.
Examiner: What things do advertising companies do that might give it a bad name?
Raol: For me the most irritating is cold calling … we must get two or three of these
every day at work … then there’s junk mail that gets posted through the letterbox
… and of course the online equivalent of this … spam emails … I think it’s this
kind of advertising that tends to annoy people.
Definitions
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advertising agency: a company that creates adverts for other companies
advertising budget: the amount of money a company decides to spend on advertising
brand awareness: how well people know a particular brand
brand loyalty: the degree to which people continue to buy from the same brand
or company
buy and sell: often used to refer to the buying and selling of items between individuals
call to action: something that encourages someone to take a particular action, such as
making a purchase or clicking a link on a website
celebrity endorsement: to have a well-known person promote a product
classified ads: small advertisements often put in a newspaper or magazine by individuals
to cold call: to call someone with the aim of selling something without them asking you
to do so
commercial break: the short period during TV programmes when advertisements are
shown
commercial channel: TV channels that make money from showing advertisements
to go viral: to quickly become extremely popular on the Internet through social media
junk mail: unwanted promotional leaflets and letters
to launch a product: to introduce a new product
mailing list: a list of names and contact details used by a company to send information
and advertisements
mass media: large media outlets like TV, newspapers and magazines
niche product: a product that is aimed at a distinct group of people
to place an advert: to put an advert somewhere
press release: something written by a company for newspapers and magazines and
websites to share and publish
prime time: the time during the viewing schedule when most people watch TV or listen
to a broadcast
product placement: to advertise a product by using it as a prop in a TV show or film
sales page: a page specifically used to promote a product or service
to show adverts: to display adverts on TV
social media: websites that enable users to create and share content or to participate in
social networking.
spam email: unwanted, promotional email
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target audience: the people a company want to sell their product or service to
word of mouth: recommendations made by individuals to other individuals about a
product of service
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